Mandatory fees cause Concessionaires problems<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A number of forest concessionaires operating in
\nCentral Kalimantan are having difficulty at setting their annual
\nlogging plans for 1996\/1997 because they lack information on the
\namount of mandatory forest fees they should pay, an official
\nsays.<\/p>\n
The head of the local forestry office in Palangka Raya, A.S.M.
\nPanjaitan, said 84 forest concessionaires were unable to submit
\ntheir annual logging plans for government approval because they
\ndid not have the final calculations on the amount of forest
\nroyalties and reforestation funds due on their concessions.<\/p>\n
Forest royalties and reforestation funds are mandatory fees
\nimposed by the government to assure that forests are managed in
\nan environmentally-sound manner. The amount of the fees, which
\ndepends on the volume and type of timber felled, is incorporated
\nin the timber prices.<\/p>\n
Panjaitan said the final calculations on the payment of these
\nfees are among the requirements that must be submitted together
\nwith a forest concessionaires' annual logging plans in order to
\ngain government approval.<\/p>\n
Only after the annual logging plans are approved by the
\ngovernment can forest concessionaires conduct logging operations
\nfor the current fiscal year.<\/p>\n
Panjaitan was quoted by Antara as saying that so far, only
\nfive concessionaires have completed their annual logging
\nproposals for official assessment.<\/p>\n
Other requirements which must be submitted together with the
\nproposal include proof that a forest concessionaire or timber
\nestate has conducted village-development programs in its
\nconcession area, employed transmigrants on its timber estates and
\nplanted local tree species in its area.<\/p>\n
To gain government approval for its upcoming (1996\/1997)
\nannual logging plan, a forest concessionaire must have
\naccomplished all these requirements by March 31.<\/p>\n
The concessionaires, according to Panjaitan, must have also
\npaid all kinds of the government-mandated forest fees.<\/p>\n
They are also required to submit copies of payment invoices
\nfor forest royalties and reforestation funds for one year
\n(1994\/1995) and other documents declaring the origin of their
\ntimber exports, if any.<\/p>\n
If the concessionaires are related to wood-based industries,
\nthe industries should be able to prove the origins of their raw
\nmaterials. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mandatory-fees-cause-concessionaires-problems-1447893297",
"image": ""
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